The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-16
KAPIOLANFS REALM.
The Sandwich Islands, and How The,
Are Prosporing.


Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, June 6.-Queen Kapiola his
visit has brought the Sandwich Islands pI ON
inently before the United States, and the
following conversation with one of the most
prominent residents of Honolulu will be read
with interest. The gentleman, who is large
sugar dealer and close friend of Claus
Spreckles, tells me that the Hawaiian Islands
are falling off in population, and that there
now are on the islands not more than &c, 900
souls, which is considerably less than they
had when Capt Cook visited the country 100
years ago.
"The Sandwich Islands," this gentleman
continued, twill eventually fall into the
hands of the United States Already she has
large American resident population, and 90
per cent of her trade is with the United
States. Only about one-half of the people
are natives, and about one-fourth of the
whole population is made up of Chinese COO
lies. The foreign element increases from year
to year, and of these foreigners large num-
Der come from China and Japan.
"Queen Kapiolauis army is composed Of
300 infantry and 100 cavalry, and her capital
city, Honolulu, has just about 10000 people.
King Kualaua belongs to the church
Of England and his government is just about
81 900, 600 in debt. 1t pays interest on this at
the rate of from to 10 per cent. and does not
lie awake at night thinking about trying to
p,.y the principal. The government has a
arliament consisting Of a house Of nobhs
whose members are appointed by the king and
q house of twenty-eight representatives elected
by the people. Voters must be able to read
ard write, own land to the amount of $3.50,
c cd to have an income of $50 q year"
"Give me some information about the
Islands, said /.
"The kingdom is by no means a large one.
There are twelve Of these Sandwich Islands
and the whole of them could he crowded into
the State of New Jersey and leave enough
room for Rhode Island around the edges.
They are high and volcanic in structure, and
they have several mountains over 10, 900 feet
high. They have 100000 acres of grazing
land and about 800, 900 acres devoted to agri
culture Sugar is the principal product and
It is said that Claus Spreckles, the sugar mill
ionaire practically owns the industry of the
island About two years ago it wa:
charged that Spreckles was trying tc
get entire possession Of the islands and
make Himself their king, and it was
said that King Kalakaua owed Spreckles g
lot of money for advancements made to him
at the time of his coronation. 1t is against
the law of these islands that the crowns lands
should be sold, and Spreckles, it is said, in
duced the king to sell him 10000 acres, and
Spreckles' son, during a visit to Washington
not long ago, said that their firm had about
60, 900 acres of sugar lands under cultivation
Upon one of these plantations, containing
5000 acres 1,500 persons were employed, anC
these were of every nationality, including
300 whites
HWhat kind of man is Spreckles."
"He is one of the most remarkable of the
rich men of the west. He is German, who
came to this country in 1880 and started a re
tail grocery in New York city. He went tc
California soon after the gold fever broke
out ard tn.re engaged in the grocery bust
ness. prcferring it to mining. He made large
profits, and invested $4,000 in brewery il
| San Francisco. From making beer lie turned
| to making sugar, and he now is said to con
troll the entire sugar trade of the Pacific coast
His mills make 600 barrels OF sugar daily the
year round, and each Of these barrels, it i.
said, will average $50 in value. This make.
a business of $1,000 a day, or over Sc. 900,
900 year, and as Spreckles profits are
said to be $40 barrel, he has an income Of
$4,000 a day. Spreckles is a very popular
m:n in San Francisco. His son is a Repub
lican, and he gives literally to the campaigns
The old gentleman is Of medium height, vel
built and well dressed. His round head /,
covered with thick, white hair and he is full
of life and vigor. He comes here to Wash
ington very frequently during the congres
sional sessions, and both he and his son are
anxious that no duty be put upon Sandwich
Islands sugar
1T is said that Spreckles and Kalakaua are
now not on the best Of terms. But Kalakaua
is bound to Spreckles in more ways thar
those of sociaLility. 1t is said that Spreckle'
lent him 100000 in 1884, and young
Spreckles once said here that Kalakaua had
often jokingly told his father, after following
his advice in certain instances, that he be
lieved if Spreckles could zee his GIalakaua's
backbone be would find the initials &C. s..
! stamped upon it" THOMAS j. TODD.